Attending an award ceremony for a writer/Carlos Pueblo

Attending an award ceremony for a writer/Carlos Pueblo

Mrs. Chang, wife of the late distinguished alumnus of my alma mater, Taiwan

Normal, was holding a first place award ceremony Saturday at an official

Taiwan’s building at Westpark and Briar Park. I was so appreciated that Harry,

her husband attended my mother’s funeral in 2013 shortly before his sudden

deceased of heart failure. Mrs. Chang, a named recognized writer in Chinese

language herself has won many awards during her career and this is the latest

one. Our alumni association is one of many sponsors to this event.

She gave us an excellent presentation of her work, a biographical interview of

several scholars of Chinese decent living in this country. I learned that there were

two at least were under so called White Terror oppression during the Chinese

Nationalists regime in Taiwan, 1945-2000. She did mention the fact, yet not in

details and regardless of the thought of the two in that matter. Finally, she

emphasized the fact that she appreciated her opportunity to receive good education

in Taiwan. Her presentation is excellent and well prepared. She did mention about

the political power changed in Taiwan which makes her wonder of some sort and

I must ask her some question because that I can no longer sit silently.

I am a writer myself, like my son is a painter himself, only my work is not good

enough to be published; however, a piece of writing should have the writer’s

opinion toward certain subject, such as the current political situation among

Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, and Singapore, the four nations of dominant Chinese

language. Some audients followed up my questions about the politics in writing

which should be essential to a writing. She admits that she always avoid to get

involved during her career because that she is not familiar with such field. I felt

very sorry for such a talent in writing to speak for the weak and disadvantaged

in both Taiwan and China. I always believe what Confucius famous words that

only a good writer utilizes his pen to make the incumbent rulers scare of wrong

doing to his people.

參加作家頒獎會/莊峻華

參加作家頒獎會/莊峻華

我們校友會來電話，要求參加作家頒獎會，這是台灣政府僑委會所

舉辦，今年得獎人是我們前傑出校友，張元樵博士夫人，元樵仙逝

前，曾來先母告別式，非常感激，張夫人也常來校友會，支持活動

，幾年前有張鳳從哈佛來，元樵曰張就是其夫人，旅美作協會長繼

任者，都和台師大校友會有關，都是旅美作家。我也勤於作文，筆

耕四十餘年，但都藏諸名山，傳之於人，對於有著作出版者，心生

羨慕。

我是著西裝，蓋上風衣上公車到僑教館，因為家裡去年淹水，報廢

一車，變成三人兩車，我因無甚活動，所以第三優先，公車也很方

便，十五分鐘可達門口。頒獎會最精彩者，，為張夫人之演獎，張

提到幾位訪問對像學者，其中兩位是和白色恐怖有關，也提到華人

社會老人被子女虐待情事，這些都是演講後之提問，張鳳演講之主

題是張愛玲傳，兩人對近代中文作家之研究，非常執著，但對涉及

之政治，均避之不談，我想這是非常遺憾，蓋彼等妙筆之材，脫離

思想政治看法評論，對整個中國文學，中文之生存，利害攸關，當

然責任在北京和台北兩政府，香港和新加坡倒是其次，中文創作若

跟上英文，白話文言文之爭議，迎刃而解。

中國當今之政權，想法和作法，和過去的台灣，都是強權，限制作

家思想，承繼中國幾千年之獨裁體制，當今中國更甚，連國民受教

育之權利，均吝於施捨，子曰春秋之筆，必使亂臣賊子懼。

A unique sell of house/Carlos Pueblo

A unique sell of house/Carlos Pueblo

I had been called to be present at a unique sell of house, one at a singing

contract day, and the other at the closing. The seller, my insured asked me

for a favor. After a deal went sour with a friend, she selected to respond a

flyer of house buying professional and sealed the deal. She wanted to know

if the contract was genuine. The professional indicated that he would purchase

the house as the current condition with a steep discount, about 40% from the

peak; however, paying all the closing cost except prorated real estate tax and

homeowner association fee. I didn’t ask why she selected this way to sell her

house to avoid my opinion getting involved. The buyer has been in this business

for many years and indicated that some time is hard to get the funding from the

bank.

At a delayed closing, I noticed that the purchase was funded by a self- directed

IRA account via a specialized bank according such IRS code. I have been an

insurance agent and security broker dealer for years of selling individual IRA.

Mostly, I had had some traditional IRA set up with mutual funds, common stocks

, and occasionally annuity as the investment vehicles and forgot why I didn’t have

such experience of self-directed IRA in real estate investment. The buyer pro invites

to attend his seminar and learn more. I think that I am doing fine with my IRA in

mutual funds lately and ready for the 70 ½ mandatory minimum distribution soon.

The delay was really from the attorney’s draw of the definition of buyer, the seller’s

was quite simple clear title and sole ownership.

I have thought of it for two days the reasons why skip the trade during my time to

sell IRA this way. I think that as describe, the customer must be familiar with the

real estate business first, secondly I was not familiar with the IRS codes and the

general security companies exclude such products on the market. It is a security

product indeed yet not popular with the general public for one reason and the

safety of such person who is in charge of such investment is very vital. He told me

the profit margin was 7% to 12 % which was better than bank rate of return.

Five years ago, we sold our old house to a builder directly in just one day. The

builder tore down the old house and built a mansion out of it with three times

of our selling price and that was at the good time of Houston real estate. We felt

so sorry for our sale a little bit early and we should wait for one more year to get

some higher offer until Hurricane Harvey. That entire subdivision was flooded due

to a release of water from the upstream of Buffalo Bayou.

新穎房屋買賣/莊峻華

新穎房屋買賣/莊峻華

最近我應邀參加一老客戶住屋買賣，十分新穎，我參加簽約和交接兩

會議，因為包險客戶，沒有房地產代理人，不甚肯定簽約內容之可靠

，但又急欲脫手住屋。她在收到一張明信片廣告，有人願意迅速購其

屋，無需任何修理，現況交接，但是低價購買，低價大約是六折之內

，她同意，而且約定簽訂契約，她要我解釋契約內容費用部份，我在

電話中，請她注意她交接時，需要出多少手續費，買方重新書寫一份

契約書，簡單扼要，雙方同意，簽約後約好交接日期。

我在奧斯汀回程中，接到她電話，交接無法按期，因為律師未將書類

及時完成，抵家後，再行通話，順延到下午四時，於是她要我幫忙，

要我出席交接會議，幫忙看文件。她的部份十分簡單，就是個人屋主

，所有權都清楚，沒有任何貸款，任何抵押權，倒是買方簽約證件，

十分複雜，因為有銀行貸款參與，而且是個人退休金，就是買方提到

之投資者，而且曾經提到，銀行放款之難易，我是恍然大悟。

我過去堪稱是，個人退休計劃金之退銷者，熟悉一般投資計劃，幫客

戶退薦共同基金，最為成功，一直不曾參與過拿個人退休金，購買單

屋一事，購屋者是一專家，他簡單說，如此投資之房屋，不能自居，

一定要從事生易，或是翻新賣出圖利，我特別查一下谷歌，自己投資

退休金房地產部份，和一般股票，基金，和定存等，均與個人退休金

在1974年，一起設立存在，只不過較為複雜難懂。

買者告知，利潤大約是百分之七到百分之十二，如此投資，是給一些

熟悉房地產者，可以利用其知識，和退休金，投資在房地產，像是分

散投資，只是中間之退休金，需要經過一家註冊管理者，多半是律師

團，需要費用，谷歌上沒有如此數目，可供參考。

Two consecutive visits to Austin/Carlos Pueblo

Two consecutive visits to Austin/Carlos Pueblo

There were two consecutive visits to Austin for me, one was a week before

last for a regular one, and one of the last with my son Arthur for his annual

week off. A regular one means that we go up to Austin to do our daughter’s

house chores such as lawn mowing, garden weeding, and the cleaning of

inside since she has been so busy on her job. Arthur finally agreed to visit

her house after almost 8 years in existence. We drove his almost 20 years

old Q45, ran into an orange signal of engine services soon light scare, took

the city bus to tour the State Capitol, Congress Avenue, and Austin City Town

Lake, finally discovered a method of personal IRA banking of an investment

of a rental property.

The old car is a 1997 model with several issues fixed and is still running well

enough for his job of 3 miles a day one way; however, to complete a 150

miles trip is a real challenge, a risk become a crisis. The owner of a garage

across the street of her house recommended me find a diagnosis from a

auto parts store and bring it back for his analysis. His mechanic told me that

was a misfired engine #2, so he would replace a spark plug and hopefully no

need to tough the coil. We then took a Metro bus to the State Capitol. Arthur

cannot be a citizen of the lone star state and not has been visiting the Capitol.

We began the public tool on the ground floor with two giant painting of Alamo

and San Jacinto, then visited the state Senate and House chambers and down

to the basement and reminded me of my last Capitol visit of 1993 before the

office expansion completed. While we walked down to Congress Avenue, a

call came in from the garage and the car was ready to be picked up. We decided

to come home to see the vehicle which was place on the driveway and the car

key was in the mail box.

We still decided to use the same day pass for the bus to tour Congress Avenue in

the next morning. We walked all the way toward the famous Austin Town Lake,

actually was a dam of Colorado River. I guided him for a walk of certain portion

of the Lake; however, I had to make several break due to my old age. Austin is

still expanding in construction and there are so many people come to the city for

a convention of all kinds. Michelle came back from her training in Dallas in time to

see Arthur before her annual vacation to Asia.

I received a call from my old client and friend for her house deal on that day. Later

I promised her to accompany her to the closing table to view all document. The buyer

of her house was an individual representative funded by an individual retirement

account investor which I was not aware of back to my time as an agent in this field.

I shall explain all what his mention later in another piece.

連訪奧斯汀兩週/莊峻華

連訪奧斯汀兩週/莊峻華

琳兒年初搬回奧斯汀，因為她工作忙碌，於是我們每月安排三日，

北上奧斯汀，幫她打掃房間，整理庭院，她之前後院，都是小花園

，只是無人整理，一個月一次，真是遠水救不了近火，還好鄰居多

半不整理庭院。上週做工回家，得知元兒放假一週，連忙規劃再度

北上奧斯汀，琳兒也安排週四，從達拉斯市趕回家，與弟弟晚餐，

她珍惜如此機會。昨日返家，始發現時代之變化，我與之脫節，茲

舉數例，修車，逛州府辦公室，餐廳，老街，和房產買賣新招。

我開元兒老車，沿十號和71號公路西北上，車在近奧斯汀附近，亮

出速修理引擎橘燈，元兒怪我不該開此近20年之老爺車，車抵琳兒

府，過街找修車老闆，他聽聞後曰，可以先到附近一家汽車靈件連鎖

店，免費讀橘燈信號，領回信號再來研究對策，次事甚為新穎，我依

指示，拿到信號表兩張，該測信號儀，甚至有圖表，協助診斷機況，

修車師傅曰小事，大約就是換一引擎火星塞，工資約是一百五，靈件

最多兩百，於是我們改搭市巴士到州府辦公室，穿過著名之德大校園

，州府有許多訪客，每15分鐘，就有一公共導遊，訪客僅有我們是當

地人，走到地下辦公室，我始發現最後一次參觀，是1993年前，新增

辦公室完竣前一年。走出州府花園，正步入議會大道老街，車行來話，

可以取車矣，因時間故，車行將車開到琳兒車道，車鎖匙放在信箱內，

翌晨再付錢，結果是兩百美元。

我因不喜歡開車，所以續用當日24小時車票，再回州府，然後就是閒

逛議會大道，這是奧斯汀之精華老街，新舊建築，均是維護特優，難怪

人們喜居此城，我們走到科羅拉多河，就是市湖，帶元兒小繞湖一圈，

過去我們常有機會住湖畔海耶特，清晨逛湖多次，有時後遇見加拿大白

天鵝過路棲息。琳兒特從達拉斯趕回，招待元兒晚餐，很有趣者，我們

仍舊談論去年美國總統選舉，週六，她就遠行尼泊爾和日本休假去也。

一位老友客戶，準備房屋交接，希望我幫忙看文件，於是我回家後，趕

到所有權公司交接地點，也是買主辦公室，買主和我見過一面，這次他

解釋買主背景，是一種個人退休金計劃之投資，非常有趣，以前我自認

此個人計劃之專門，從來不曾聽聞個人計劃，可以使用如此管道，我一

問下，立刻了解，可以建議喜歡房地產投資之琳兒考慮。

Disembark at Ushuaia, Argentina/Carlos Pueblo

Disembark at Ushuaia, Argentina/Carlos Pueblo

The cruise ship sailed into and out of Punta Arenas, then arrived at Ushuaia

, Argentina, all among islands pass way called the Strait of Magellan, in

memory of the great sailor Ferdinand Magellan. Punta Arenas is the south

most city of Chile while Ushuaia is the last city of the world, Ushuaia fin

del Mundo. The port has been built on a beach front plain south of the

Martial Mountains, the southern tip of the Great Andes, and across the

Strait is the beginning of the Glacier of the Antarctica. Right next to the pier,

there was a Russian research vessel called, Akadamik Sergev Vavilov, before

and after us at the port for supply obviously.

I could see the orange color roof naval base on the right front side in my

Binocular. Down to the streets, I did see some young navy officers and

soldiers and wondering myself if the ship captain and ranking officers

walking down to the town in uniform would create some kinds of disturbance.

I walk as usual in every town which I visit. There are four business streets

parallel each other up to the old town boundary. The aborigines had settled

here about 10,000 years ago until the crowded European came in for missionary

work in early 1800, the English, then some Spanish built a town in 1830, and

finally the Argentine military force arrived here in 1930. I don’t know if the

British did say anything about it or they were too busy to manage the German

In Europe; however, they did fight a war against Argentina for the near by

Falkland Islands.

I leisurely walked along the old town almost twice that morning. The city is also

a major penitentiary center for Argentina, like Punta Arenas and Coyhaique for

Chile. Both governments like to exile their criminals and dissidents far away from

the major city center. I did see an art gallery called Galleria Termatica, and I checked

my Spanish dictionary, thematic means questionable or an issue, and no wonder

that there are prisoner figures on the window as well as uniformed figures on the other

window. The Gallery is on Google search.

Lucia of the retired Brazilian surgeon loves to have some grilled sheep. I had found

so many of them on the restaurants down the business streets. It was the open body

of the sheep under log wood fire in a fire place like oven. You could see through the

glass window outside. I took her roommate to an Italian Restaurant for dinner because

of my platinum member status. She only ordered six shrimps and cocktail because of

the grilled sheep lunch with Lucia. I was lucky that I save some pesos.